Discussing

4.10.Discuss the concept of prevention cost. Why is prevention cost such a pervasive consideration in quality programs?

4.20.  Juran argues that both incremental (continuous) improvements and stepwise (breakthrough) improvements are needed in a strategic framework. Do you agree with Juran’s assessment? Why or why not?

5. 8.  Describe the basic concept behind strategic alliances. In what ways can strategic alliances facilitate a firm’s quest for quality?

5. 13.  How can firms gain an overall understanding of the market segments they serve? Make your answer as substantive as possible.

5. 19.  Explain the concepts of reliability and validity. Why is it important that survey instruments be both reliable and valid?

6. 9.  When benchmarking, what is the primary hazard in comparing measures across companies to gauge performance differences?

Problems

Ch 4. The Colorado Manufacturing Company of Boulder, Colorado, has gathered the following quality-related costs. You are hired as a consultant to evaluate these costs and to make recommendations to management?

See page 106-107

6. 1.  A company has gathered the following financial information for itself and a competing firm. They wish to compare productivity for the two firms (all numbers in 000s).

see table in page 152

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6. 4.  A domestic company operating a subsidiary in an LDC (less-developed country) has shown the fol-lowing financial results:

see table in page 152

6.11.  Following are financial statements from American Ecology. Studying these figures, what are some possible financial benchmarks this firm might want to develop?

see table in page 154